Abstract: A microfluidic device for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) processing includes a platform with a microstructure with at least one reaction chamber, and a heating element. The heating element heats at least a part of the at least one reaction chamber. The heating element includes at least one spin torque oscillator (STO) configured to heat the at least a part of the at least one reaction chamber to one or more temperatures for PCR processing.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording device is disposed in a hermetically sealed enclosure. The device includes a slider comprising a reader, a writer, and an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider. The near-field transducer comprises an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface. A fill gas is provided within the enclosure. The fill gas comprises a mixture of a low-density, inert gas and at least one gas that oxidizes carbon, where the total carbon oxidizing gas concentration of the fill gas is 3-50% by volume. In certain embodiments, the fill gas comprises a hydrogen concentration sufficient to retard oxidation of the peg when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording device is disposed in a hermetically sealed enclosure. The device includes a slider comprising a reader, a writer, and an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider. The near-field transducer comprises an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface. A fill gas is provided within the enclosure. The fill gas comprises a mixture of a low-density, inert gas and at least one gas that oxidizes carbon, where the total carbon oxidizing gas concentration of the fill gas is 3-50% by volume. In certain embodiments, the fill gas comprises a hydrogen concentration sufficient to retard oxidation of the peg when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.

Abstract: A disk drive is operable to determine degradation associated with writing to a disk surface by a head which has written existing data at a first areal density. A second areal density less than the first areal density is determined that remediates the degradation. The disk drive performs subsequent writes to the disk surface at the second areal density, and continues to read the existing data at the first areal density.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a data storage foil mounted within the data storage system, the data storage foil has at least one data storage surface. The data storage system also includes a head configured to interact with the at least one data storage surface to carry out at least one of data read or data write operations.

Abstract: A data storage device includes at least one data storage disc, at least one head supported by a rotatable actuator arm, an elevator configured to move the rotatable actuator arm in a z direction, a first vertical guide post, a ramp assembly configured to support the head on a movable ramp, and a bracket attached to the movable ramp. The at least one head is configured to communicate with the at least one data storage disc when positioned over the at least one data storage disc. The movable ramp is moveable in a z direction parallel to the first vertical guide post. The bracket is engageable to the rotatable actuator arm so that the bracket moves along the first vertical guide post in unison with z direction motion of the rotatable actuator arm via the elevator, and the bracket is disengageable from the rotatable actuator arm.

Abstract: A recording head for writing data on tracks of a data storage medium is provided. The recording head includes a writer having a write pole and a trailing shield. The write pole includes a pole tip configured to write on the tracks of the data storage medium. The recording head also includes first and second writing-assistance wires positioned between the pole tip and the trailing shield in a down-track direction to enable a writing-assistance current to be provided to produce an assist magnetic field that augments a write field produced by the write pole.

Abstract: 3D optical data storage refers to forms of optical data storage in which information can be recorded and/or read with 3D resolution. 3D optical media are generally limited in areal density by the diffraction limit of laser light used to read and/or write data to and/or from the optical media. It is thus advantageous to find ways to store data on 3D optical media with a spot size below the diffraction limit of an associated laser reader to further increase areal density of the optical media. A hybrid approach that utilizes plasmon technology to access a surface layer of the 3D optical media with an extremely small spot size and photon technology to access interior layers of the 3D optical media with a larger spot size may substantially increase overall data density of the 3D optical media.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) processing includes a platform with a microstructure with at least one reaction chamber, and a heating element. The heating element heats at least a part of the at least one reaction chamber. The heating element includes at least one spin torque oscillator (STO) configured to heat the at least a part of the at least one reaction chamber to one or more temperatures for PCR processing.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a data storage foil mounted within the data storage system, the data storage foil has at least one data storage surface. The data storage system also includes a head configured to interact with the at least one data storage surface to carry out at least one of data read or data write operations.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording device is disposed in a hermetically sealed enclosure. The device includes a slider comprising a reader, a writer, and an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider. The near-field transducer comprises an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface. A fill gas is provided within the enclosure. The fill gas comprises a mixture of a low-density, inert gas and at least one gas that oxidizes carbon, where the total carbon oxidizing gas concentration of the fill gas is 3-50% by volume. In certain embodiments, the fill gas comprises a hydrogen concentration sufficient to retard oxidation of the peg when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.

Abstract: A recording head for writing data on tracks of a data storage medium is provided. The recording head includes a writer having a write pole and a trailing shield. The write pole includes a pole tip configured to write on the tracks of the data storage medium. The recording head also includes first and second writing-assistance wires positioned between the pole tip and the trailing shield in a down-track direction to enable a writing-assistance current to be provided to produce an assist magnetic field that augments a write field produced by the write pole.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuator with at least one actuator arm configured to translate among the plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording device is disposed in a hermetically sealed enclosure. The device includes a slider comprising a reader, a writer, and an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a light source to a near-field transducer situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider. The near-field transducer comprises an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion in a direction of the air bearing surface. A fill gas is provided within the enclosure. The fill gas comprises a mixture of a low-density, inert gas and at least one gas that oxidizes carbon, where the total carbon oxidizing gas concentration of the fill gas is 3-50% by volume. In certain embodiments, the fill gas comprises a hydrogen concentration sufficient to retard oxidation of the peg when the peg is at an operating temperature associated with write operations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuator with at least one actuator arm configured to translate among the plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

Abstract: A recording head for writing data on tracks of a data storage medium. The recording head includes a writer having a write pole and a trailing shield. The write pole includes a pole tip configured to write on the tracks of the data storage medium. The recording head also includes a writing-assistance wire that is positioned between the pole tip and the trailing shield in a down-track direction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuator with at least one actuator arm configured to translate among the plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of storage media mounted on a rotatable spindle. The apparatus also includes an actuator with at least one actuator arm configured to translate among the plurality of storage media and at least two heads supported on the at least one actuator arm. Each of the at least two heads is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage media.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a magnet housing dimensioned to receive a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium or a hard disk drive comprising at least one HAMR medium. A degausser is disposed in the magnet housing and is configured to generate at least one field sufficient to erase the HAMR medium, where the HAMR medium has a coercivity of between about 20 and 100 kOe at room temperature.

Abstract: Data is written to data sectors of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) medium using a laser of a HAMR head supplied with a sum of an operational current and a threshold current. A service current is supplied to the laser when the head is over servo sectors of the medium, such that a temperature of the medium at the servo sectors is greater than or equal to a temperature of the head when over the servo sectors.